Happy 84th Birthday to Legendary PETER MINSHALL ,

 To world renowned “ mas “ veteran and one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most influential icons of Carnival!
ABVMTT extends Happy 84th Birthday Greetings to Peter Minshall , artist, designer, artistic director and masman renowned for his works of mas for Trinidad carnival and large-scale spectacle events and performances world wide.
Peter Minshall was born on July 16th 1941 in Georgetown, Guyana and his family migrated to Trinidad and Tobago during the late-1940s. He grew up in POS and attended the Queen’s Royal College where he became heavily involved with the school’s theatre productions before leaving to study Theatre Design in London. After graduating, he worked in costume design and mas. He became part of the multi-ethnic West Indian Theatre, as well as Notting Hill Carnival, where he was one of the first persons to design costumes for the Notting Hill Carnival in London.
When he returned to T&T in 1974, he brought these experiences with him to create his “From The Land of the Hummingbird” costume for his sister Sherry-Ann Guy (Coelho). It showcased one of his earliest innovations: the articulated bird wing. “Tan Tan” and “Saga Boy”, are among Minshall’s most iconic creations, notably for there larger than life presence and unbelievably life like mechanics.
At the international level, Minshall played a major role in the design and artistic direction of the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in 1992 and 1996, and the 2002 Winter Olympics, among other major spectacle events.
He has received numerous awards for his achievements, among them: the University of the West Indiesa Guggenheim Fellowship (1982); an honorary doctorate from The University of the West Indies (1991); the Trinity Cross (1996); and an Emmy for the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
Happy 84th birthday Peter Minshall and thank you for keeping T &T flag flying high by sharing your talent with the world.
​(Source:  Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago, July 16, 2025)